Following a four-year career at Tennessee and an impressive Summer League start with the Memphis Grizzlies, Yves Pons signed with the organization, the team announced Tuesday.
The 2020 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time SEC All-Defensive Team selection, Pons saw action in 116 games with 70 total starts during his stint with the Vols.
Also named one of 10 finalists for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Award this past season, the Fuveau, France, native finished his career eighth on Tennessee’s all-time blocks list with 137 blocked shots.
In May, Pons graduated from UT with a degree in Recreation and Sport Management.
Pons played three games for the Grizzlies early last week at the Salt Lake City Summer League, recording one start. In his debut, Pons scored 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting and blocked two shots, before scoring nine points and grabbing five rebounds the next day.
Pons has yet to appear in any Las Vegas Summer League games, but the Grizzlies are scheduled to play their next game on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
As the 2021 NBA Summer League gets underway in Las Vegas, six other VFLs are in action. Take a look at how they have performed early on in Summer League play:
Kyle Alexander | Phoenix Suns
Alexander has played two games for the Suns so far in Las Vegas, starting both contests.
In Phoenix’s opening game against the Lakers, Alexander started and scored six points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots. Against the Jazz on Monday, Alexander scored four points and pulled down eight rebounds, as well as recording two steals and dishing out two assists in 20 minutes of action.
Jordan Bone | Indiana Pacers
Bone started Indiana’s only game thus far in Las Vegas, a 94-86 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday. In 22 minutes of action, Bone scored nine points on 4-for-7 shooting while grabbing three rebounds and recording two assists.
The Pacers play their second Summer League game Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. ET against an Atlanta Hawks team that includes Bone’s UT teammate Admiral Schofield. The game will be televised on NBA TV.
Jordan Bowden | Brooklyn Nets
In a 91-84 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Bowden played 21 minutes, posting a stat line of three points, two rebounds and one assist. Bowden and the Nets are back in action Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Keon Johnson | Los Angeles Clippers
After being selected No. 21 overall in the NBA Draft just under two weeks ago, Johnson made his Summer League debut with the Clippers on Monday. Johnson scored eight points and grabbed four boards while also recording two assists, two steals and blocking a shot.
Johnson’s second appearance in the Summer League is slated for an 11 p.m. ET tip-off on Tuesday night against the Portland Trailblazers.
Admiral Schofield | Atlanta Hawks
Schofield played 26 minutes in the Hawks’ opening Summer League game, posting seven rebounds and four assists.
Schofield and the Hawks return to action on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET against Bone and the Indiana Pacers.
Jaden Springer | Philadelphia 76ers
The No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft, Springer started and played 24 minutes in a 95-73 Philadelphia win over Dallas. He scored 11 points, blocked two shots and had two assists. Springer played the second most minutes on the team behind Tyrese Maxey, who is entering his second season with the 76ers.
The 76ers’ second game of Summer League is set for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off on Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
-UT Athletics
